Fixed Income Quant Interview Guide
Fixed income quant interview guide covering bond pricing, yield curves, duration, swaps, credit, funding, risk, and practice.
Candidates preparing for rates, credit, macro, or fixed-income quant roles.
Fixed income starts with cash flows
Most fixed-income questions reduce to timing, discounting, rate conventions, and risk sensitivity. State cash flows before discussing models or trades.
Curves connect the market
Yield curves, discount curves, forward rates, swap curves, and credit spreads are related but not identical. Interview answers should name which curve is being used.
Concrete example
A bond pricing question may ask for present value, then follow with how price changes when rates shift or when credit spreads widen.
Risk is multidimensional
Duration, convexity, curve risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, funding risk, and optionality can all matter in fixed-income portfolios.
Common mistakes
Candidates often memorize formulas without conventions. Be explicit about compounding, day count, coupon timing, and whether the move is parallel or curve-specific.
Practice the pattern
Use the LeetQuidity curriculum and calibration to turn this topic into a focused practice plan.